Handwriting On The Wall

"I don't see why I should be ashamed of that. It's not like I am having an affair with Yuka" she said and the queen slapped her across the face, hard.

"Don't you dare say his name in front of me. What do you think Caden is going to do, if he finds out that you've been visiting his brother a lot more than you hang out with him?"

"I don't see why any of that is your business, your highness. I do not appreciate you treating me like trash. I might have red blood in my veins but that doesn't mean that I'm a nonentity. If you're so upset about Caden choosing me as his bride, why don't you talk to him about it?" Hazel said, refusing to get intimidated by the queen.

"You're playing with fire" the queen spat.

"Oh, am I?"

Hazel looked like she was enjoying herself.

"I could kill you right now, you know that, right?" the queen hissed.

Hazel let out a humourless laughter, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Are you threatening me right now, your highness? No, wait. You are threatening me. Wait until Caden hears about it"

The queen was getting more riled up by the second. She couldn't understand why Hazel was so immune to her. She hated it. Evey other person in the palace was completely under her control. Everyone but Yuka and Hazel. She was frustrated. Since she couldn't get either of them to fear her, she was pissed.

"I have a hunch that you stole the Sceptre. But since I have no proof, I'm going to let that slide.... for now.

You want to act all tough and fearless. That's fine by me. Maybe, just maybe, you're going to end up six feet below the ground sooner than I thought" the queen said and walked away. Hazel glared at the Queen's retreating figure even though, deep down she was worried.

Prince Caden was boiling with anger by the time he arrived right in front of the door of Yuka's chamber. He tried to use his magic to force the door open but the door wouldn't budge. So, he knocked on the door until it opened. Kai, Yuka's bestfriend and personal healer opened the door, a questioning look on his face.

Caden pushed past him and entered Yuka's chamber only to find Yuka lying on his bed looking very much asleep. His face was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. Caden frowned, not wanting to believe that Yuka hadn't stolen the Sceptre.

"Yuka" he said and Kai walked up to him with a frown on his face.

"Please, your majesty. Let him rest. He couldn't sleep last night and he had a terrible fever all through the night. He's still being affected by the poison" Kai said and Caden narrowed his eyes. If Yuka had been too sick to get out of bed the previous night, then who had stolen the Sceptre?

"Yuka! Get up!" Caden said and Yuka slowly opened his eyes, squinting at him.

"Caden, what are you doing here?" He asked, his voice hoarse. "Don't try to fool me, Yuka. I know you stole the Sceptre"

Yuka pulled his blanket closer around himself.

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You're just looking for an excuse to see me in this state. Now, please will you just leave me alone?" Yuka croaked.

"Father demands for your presence in the main court, right now"

Yuka groaned, clenching his fist. "Why won't you just leave me alone?"

"Get up, Yuka"

"Fine"

He sat up, his long hair tumbling down the sides of his face. He slowly got out of bed and swayed a bit. Kai immediately steadied him with a worried look on his face. "Your majesty, this is a bad idea. You can barely walk" he said and Yuka shook his head slightly.

"I'm fine"

"Lead the way, brother. Why don't you?" Yuka said and Caden clenched his fist. They both made their way out of Yuka's chamber with Yuka looking like he was going to keel over. On getting to the main court, none of the council members or the members of the royal household showed concern for the second prince.

"You called for me" Yuka croaked and the queen raised a brow.

"You stole the Sceptre, didn't you?" the king asked and he sighed. "Father, why would I do that? You know very well that I don't do things without having a reasonable reason to do them. Besides, I was punished just yesterday" Yuka rasped.

"Only the members of the royal family know where the Sceptre was kept and that is including you" Lyen, one of the council members said.

"If you're suggesting that I stole it because I don't want Caden to get married... to the..."

Yuka's voice trailed off as he clutched the side of his head, his face contorted with pain.

"Yuka, you don't look so good" the king said, his brows furrowed.

Yuka forced out a smile.

"You don't have to look so worried, especially when I know you're not" Yuka said, staring right at his father like he was sending some secret message to him.

The king blinked and his expression became blank once more.

"Yuka, tell us the truth right now. We can go easy on you if you confirm that you stole it" another member of the council said.

"Why do you always assume that I only do bad things?"

"It's because that's who you are" was the Queen's reply.

"I-" Yuka's eyes suddenly rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Guards! Take the second prince to his chamber. Ask the chief healer to attend to him" the king ordered and the guards immediately obeyed their king.

Caden was going insane because the Sceptre was still missing and apparently, Yuka wasn't guilty of stealing it.

In the king's study, the king sat with his royal advisor, Amon.

"I know for a fact that my son, Yuka, stole the scepter" he said and Amon raised a brow. "How do you know that?"

"I know him very well, Amon. His statement confirmed it. If he went ahead to steal the Sceptre, it means he had a reason for doing so. I trust his judgement. But, I am worried about him, Amon"

"I am also worried about the second prince, your grace. He is so daring and courageous. Yet, he has gone through so much in the hands of the queen"

The king shook his head with a distraught look on his face. "I am the king. But I feel so helpless when it comes to Clarice and I hate the fact that I always have to pretend that I don't care about Yuka"

"Yuka knows that it's all a facade, you know that right?"

The king snorted.

"Of course, he would see right through my facade. He reminds me so much of his mother"

"What are the council members saying about the Sceptre?" Amon asked.

"They want the Sceptre to remain hidden"

"Why?"

"Because Hazel is not Caden's wife. She will be queen but she is not destined to be Caden's life partner"

"Are you saying that she is Yuka's wife?"

"No. They didn't say she's Yuka's wife. They were secretive about who her true husband is" the king responded.

"How long are we going to keep this up? Clarice is seriously hurting Yuka and there is absolutely nothing we can do"

"I know that we will find a way soon and I believe that Hazel's arrival at the palace is going to lead to the beginning of a new era. An era where everything will be exposed and the handwriting on the wall will be read"